Onslow Commissioners Lower Tax Rate In Historic Meeting

For the first time in its history, the Onslow County Board of Commissioners exercised authority granted to them under NCGS 159-15 to lower the property tax rate of the county an additional ½ of one cent (the equivalent of over half a million dollars) following the start of a fiscal year.

Chairman W.C. Jarman signing Ordinance

This is made possible through the recent enaction of legislation that enables a ¼ of one cent local option sales and use tax to take effect on October 1, 2010 instead of January 1, 2011.  Senate Bill 1177, ratified by the North Carolina General Assembly and signed by Governor Purdue this month gave the county this unexpected additional revenue.


Onslow County Voters approved a ¼ of one cent local option sales and use tax on May 4, 2010 during the 2010 Primary election.  Onslow was one of three counties to do so, the other counties being New Hanover and Duplin.  The Board of Commissioners for the County of Onslow promised taxpayers that they would use any revenues for 3 specific purposes’

(FIRST) lower the property tax rate by 2 cents below revenue neutral with one (1) cent being lowered in July 2010 and one (1) second cent being lowered in July 2011

(SECOND) of the remaining money, 50% would be spent on public safety.

(THIRD) the last 50% following the property tax rollback would be spent on public education.
Being mindful of the current economic times, and in an effort to provide additional relief to property owners, the Board of County Commissioners voted to lower the tax rate an additional ½ cent.  On June 29^th, the Commissioners had lowered the tax rate one and one-half cents below the revenue-neutral tax rate of 60.5 cents per $100 valuation.

The additional mid-fiscal year rollback of taxes means that the Onslow County Commissioners have rolled back property taxes a total of 2-cents from revenue neutral.  The County Commissioners have kept their promise one year earlier than previously thought possible.

In addition to rolling back property taxes, the Commissioners channeled an additional $209,000 in new sales tax funding to the Onslow County fire and rescue system, an additional $124,000 to the Onslow County public school system, and an additional $85,000 to Coastal Carolina Community College.  This once again fulfills the promise of the Board of Commissioners to channel all sales tax revenue to property tax rollback, public safety, and public education.

Public Hearing on the Proposed 2010/2011 Onslow County Budget

PUBLIC HEARING ON THE PROPOSED 2010/2011 ONSLOW COUNTY BUDGET

(Onslow County)  The Onslow County Board of Commissioners will conduct a public hearing on the Proposed 2010/2011 Budget during their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, June 21, 2010, at 7:00 p.m.  The hearing will be held in Council Chambers, Jacksonville City Hall, 815 New Bridge Street, Jacksonville.  Comments should be limited to no more than five minutes per speaker. 

Comments may be submitted prior to the meeting by email to:  budgetcomments@onslowcountync.gov.

Comments may also be submitted by US Mail or in person, but should be sent no later than Monday, June 14, 2010 to the following address:

Proposed FY 2010/2011 Budget

Onslow County Administration

4024 Richlands Highway

Jacksonville, NC  28540

A copy of the proposed budget is available for review at the following locations:

Onslow County Administration Office

4024 Richlands Highway

Jacksonville

and

Onslow County Public Library Branches

·   Jacksonville, 58 Doris Avenue East

·   Richlands, 299 S. Wilmington Street

·   Sneads Ferry, 242 Sneads Ferry Road

·   Swansboro, 1460 West Corbett Avenue

The proposed budget can also be viewed on the County’s website at http://www.onslowcountync.gov/finance/right.aspx?id=15032

If you have any questions or need additional information concerning the public hearing, please contact the Onslow County Administration Office at 910/347-4717.

Onslow County Board of Commissioners Keeps Promise to Voters

Onslow County Board of Commissioners Keeps Promise to Voters

(Onslow County)  Onslow County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution at the May 18, 2010 meeting that directs County Manager Jeff Hudson to deliver the Fiscal Year 2011 Proposed Budget with a property tax rate that does not exceed the amount of revenue neutral less one cent on the property tax rate.  This action is in accordance with the promise given to voters of the County as part of the public education campaign for the Article 46 local option sales and use tax referendum.   

Chairmen W.C Jarman remarked, “It will be a good day for Onslow County property owners.  They will see that a promise made is a promise kept.”  With the overwhelming support of the sales tax referendum on May 4^th,  the Board of Commissioners are moving ahead with the enactment of the sales tax which should begin in January 2011.   

Onslow County staff is still working on the proposed budget recommendation, which will be delivered to the Board of Commissioners by June 1^st.  

For more information, contact Angela Cole, Chief Operations Officer/PIO at 910-347-4717.

2010 Onslow County Wide Property Revaluation Meeting -- TODAY!

MEETING TODAY !!

NOVEMBER 9 TH, 2009

6:30pm

Jacksonville High School Cafeteria

2010 County wide property revaluation meeting